Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Unit 103

The 2019 Muster: It’s ON! The plan is to meet and picnic once again at Coast Guard Island, Oakland. It will be Saturday, October 12, 2019. Stay tuned for details and an eventual Save the Date mailer.
Target Coordinates: 37 Deg 47.000 N – 122 Deg 15.040 W

The 2016 Annual Reunion pot-luck picnic for MIUW 103/104 was held on Saturday, 21 May 2016 at Coast Guard Island as in past years. Group photo at the end of this lengthy missive! A good time was had by all and it was great to see all you MIUWtants once again…..
———————————————————————————————————————–

(By the way – We are not here, we never were here, you’ve mistaken us for someone else and this conversation never happened.)

MIUW 1920 Shark

For MIUWU 103 and 104 Units based at Treasure Island and San Jose respectively, we have a Yahoo Groups “bulletin board” to pass the word and generally keep an active Comms Net in operation. Unit Vets can go to Yahoo Groups and sign up to be a member of Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/miuw103-104assn/
It is a “moderated group” so once you sign in and are positively identified, you will be authorized to view and post any messages and related info.. Hope to see you there so you are not “the 10% who never gets the word” ! LOL

MIUW Shark

MIUW 103 and its predecessors had their mission-roots going back before the Civil War. The task of Harbor Defense goes back even farther than that but our origins as a San Francisco-based harbor defense unit are clear. The unit worked from several locations over the years, including some time “drilling” every Wednesday night in the basement of the Palo Alto Post Office!

Fort Point guarding the Golden Gate

In the above photo, Fort Point is seen as the original harbor defense installation in San Francisco; construction started in 1853. Shown here as the new Golden Gate bridge footings are being built OVER the fort circa 1934. Along with its associated coastal artillery sites on both sides of the Golden Gate and on Alcatraz and Angel Islands, it defended the City, port and country from sea-based attack during the Civil War up through the WWII era. Those defenses later included the nuclear-armed Nike anti aircraft missiles in the hills across the Gate from here.

Even though the modern units are highly mobile and deployable in an expeditionary mode to defend any friend, any where, our historical roots are here at this fort. Notice the shoulder patch on the soldier in the middle. The Third Infantry Division. Harbor Defense used to be an Army mission back then. By WWII the Harbor Entrance Control Points were manned by both Army and Navy personnel, the Navy controlling detection, surveillance, nets and traffic control. Reference (5). (US Army Signal Corps photo)

Later on in November 1966, 4 MIUW units deployed to Vietnam under CTF-115, two from LANT Fleet, two from PAC Fleet, reporting to Inshore Undersea Warfare Group One West Pac Det. Those units protected their assigned harbors and port facilities with their organic Harbor Patrol Elements consisting primarily of armed LCPL boats and even armed Boston Whalers.

During this time frame, the units were all manned by active duty personnel as significant Reserve forces were not being called up in large numbers for that effort. The IUW Groups remained active-duty into the mid 1970’s although the MIUW Units mission had transitioned to a Navy Reserve organization by then. The IUW Groups then transitioned to a primarily all-Reserve manning thereafter. The organization, staffing makeup and chain of command is undergoing more changes into the 21st century. The mission continued.

With this website’s primary emphasis on tactical radio communications, I’ll mainly focus on that narrow aspect of MIUW 103 history, plus a few Sea Stories. If you want more information, or a current update, see your friendly Navy Recruiter and then get a Security Clearance… Sorry! ;o)

Coastwatchers with PRC-47

Above: Some time after the Civil War, but nearby (simulating an enemy-held territory), our coastwatcher team trains on a remote Pacific beach, checking in with the PRC-47 HF radio with a Codeword indicating: “Feet Dry – heading for the OP.” Coastwatchers provide essential situational awareness for situational understanding.

Above: We did a lot of cold weather training as well. After 1975, we expanded our attention to preparations in support of NATO defensive operations in northern Europe. Here in the Sierra Nevada mountains with a Marine Corps instructor from Charlie Company, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, then based in Reno NV. Use your cross country ski’s and poles to build a roof for your snow-trench hootch. Throw your poncho over it, roll out your sleeping bag inside. Set the watch section, get a radio check, Reveille is at 0600, see you for chow in the morning.

So who’s here? Bosun’s Mates, a Gunners Mate, a Sonar Technician, a Storekeeper, an Engineman, a Personnelman, a Radioman, an Electronics Technician, an Electrician, a Quartermaster, an Operations Specialist, Surface Warfare Officers, two Submariners and a Marine Corps Staff Sergeant.

“The people who join MIUW don’t join it because MIUW’s are different.

They join it because THEY are.”

GMG1 Reenlists on Mt Rose

Always time for a reenlistment ceremony, often in the unusual places you happened to be when the clock ran out.. Here, Gunners Mate First Class “Bill” is reenlisted by the CO in a snow trench in the Sierras. We always had very high reenlistment rates, even when deployed in nasty places where declining the offer got you a ticket home – no harm, no foul, THANK YOU for your service to our Country….

Then off to the US Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center near Bridgeport CA many times. Crossing a river on a one-rope bridge, rapelling, survival, navigation, communications, small unit tactics, high altitude medical, etc. We not only learned how to get around – and stay around – but more importantly, we also learned the tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP’s) of those we might be defending against in the future.

Above, the coast watcher control station on Mt. Constitution, on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands, Washington state. Part of the 1979 Exercise Strait Jacket III we deployed coast watchers at several sites around Puget Sound with their operations and reports being coordinated at the above station. We then reported via HF radio back to MIUW 1920 at their site hidden in the forest on Whidbey Island. Our mission – to detect, track and report all significant surface (and sub surface) vessel activity entering and leaving Puget Sound through the Straits of Juan de Fuca. We operated portable HF radio’s up here, including a high frequency AN/URC-87 (Southcom SC-130) seen here, a AN/PRC-104 and a VHF AN/PRC-77 seen here in the foreground. This was shortly after the “Admiral Zumwalt Years” – of long hair! Ahem… and C-Rations…

URC-87 HF Transceiver

Above: The High Frequency AN/URC-87 transceiver. We had rigged a low dipole antenna; here tuned to our night frequency of 4275 KC upper sideband. Yes, it was an “NVIS” system. This is the militarized Southcom SC-130 “Patrol Phone”. Pretty good portable radio but it wasn’t in the system for very long.

With a nod to the extremely brave Australian and native coast watchers operating in the Solomon Islands during WWII, the tactical exercise scenario here was similar. The Guadalcanal coast watcher control station “KEN” took reports and coordinated operations of the coast watchers on other islands further up “The Slot”. The above station provided a similar function in training; simulating operations in enemy held territory. History has a way of repeating itself. We take notes. We practice, we train, we deploy.

Coast watcher control station MIUW 1920

As seen above, our little station was highly mobile. Here, RM2 “Marty” stands beside our M-151 Jeep with trailer on Mt Constitution. With a commandeered picnic table and a couple of shelter halves rigged as defense against the coastal rain.

“If it’s Sun, it’s Fun. If it’s Raining, it’s Training.”

There was a US Navy aircraft carrier in the local shipyard for overhaul; I recall it was the USS Enterprise. Their Marine Corps detachment was bored and jumped at the chance to join the exercise – their mission was to deploy to the islands and attempt to locate and capture the coast watchers. Even though we were periodically resupplied with chow, water and batteries via helicopter during the 2 week exercise, they never caught us. Good training for both groups.

Extracting Coastwatcher Team

We were eventually extracted by this National Guard CH-47 Chinook and flown back to a small clearing at our site on Whidbey Island.

Former MIUW 1920 1-1/4 Ton Weapons Carrier

Does this vehicle look familiar? It should! Seen here at the 2011 Military Vehicle Collectors of California rally at Camp Delta.

No, it’s not mine. A guy from San Jose (?) apparently bought this M-715 Kaiser/Jeep Weapons Carrier surplus from DRMO and then restored it (with those highly non-reg tires and jacked up suspension)… A couple of years back it sported one of our white sonar shark triangle insignias on the door.

Chow’s almost ready

“So, you think the chow really tastes like garbage?”
“I’d just be careful of the C-Ration cans that float….erp! ”

Chow Hall, Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean

If you complain about the chow you get to sample it – at Diego Garcia!

VQ9CI QSL Card

When not sampling the Island Cuisine, I was issued call sign VQ9CC by the British Representative. Made some interesting “radio checks” from there! This “QSL Card” is from the island’s permanent station, VQ9CI.

MIUW 103 Treasure Island

One of our humble HQ’s in days gone by. The original Treasure Island Communications Center, now owned by the City of San Francisco – the new owners of Treasure Island. A catering company now leases the building from SF. Sleep well tonight…..

MIUW 1920 Site on Oahu

Above: More training: Exercise RIMPAC 1984. We hitched a ride aboard an LSD out to Pearl Harbor and then set up in the mountains, in a defilade position, above Hanauma Bay, Oahu. Maintaining surveillance of interesting things above, in and under the Kaiwi / Molokai Channel and seaward. “Hey comrade – what’s that thing up there, just over the ridge, an antenna? Can’t tell, just looks like another power pole.” Nothing to see here, move along.

We also had deployed coastwatchers to Maui and had good PRC-77 radio comms with them, over 80 miles away, mostly over sea water. Our crew was very well trained.

Training in Jordan

On deployment: Signals training with the Jordanian military out in the desert. Smart, Good guys. Here, demonstrating the Mark 13 Day/Night signal flare — my personal favorite!

The MIUW 103 Air Detachment deployed in-country

On our way downrange to Jordan, our USAF C-141 transport plane stopped at Rhein Main airbase in Frankfurt, Germany. (For fuel and allegedly for directions). As we were reboarding for the Jordan leg we heard the airport staff tell us that there just was a big earthquake in San Francisco. The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge had collapsed. Since most of the crew is from SF and the Bay Area, we were quite concerned. We knew that “The Big One” would eventually wreck the city. But we had no comms or options; the C-141 was spooling up out on the tarmac. So off we went. Wheels up.

When we arrived at our remote destination in Jordan we fired up the HF radio gear in the Van and tuned in to the BBC in London on 5975 KC shortwave for some news. Yep – a really big one on the San Andreas fault, near Loma Prieta, just south of the city. Heavy damage. The reporter then stated in the most believable proper English accent that the bridge connecting San Francisco with Burbank had collapsed. Damn, the San Andreas fault must have shifted Burbank about 300 miles north, now it was across the bay from SF! Holy crap! We finally got some comms back home and found out everyone was safe although badly rattled. We later learned that the wife of one of our former crew members had been killed in the bridge collapse.

On our trip back home, the Oakland – SF Bay Bridge had been closed, a section had indeed collapsed. So after we landed at Travis AFB, we convoyed north around the bay and via the Golden Gate Bridge into SF. Can’t get home to Treasure Island in the middle of the Bay. “Didn’t you guys hear that part of the bridge had collapsed and it was closed to check for further damage?” Uh, no, we were out of town. The California Highway Patrol eventually relented and allowed us to travel on the bridge from SF to Treasure Island – the only vehicles on the bridge. Eerie.

Fun Fact: When we had stopped for a layover in Germany most of the crew went shopping – after hitting the local Beer Hall. Apparently, nice German carved wooden Cuckoo Clocks were the thing to buy. (The Air Force crew bought booze. Hmmmm, maybe they know something. Hmmmm, maybe we should just drive the rest of the way to Jordan)

Once at our desert base in Jordan we were living in a big tent city along with the Coast Guard Port Security boat unit. Every hour, the tent city would erupt with dozens of Cuckoo Clocks sounding off announcing the hour. BONG – Coo Coo, BONG Coo Coo, BONG Coo Coo. WHAT?? The Jordanian troops (and the Coast Guardsmen) thought we were truly crazy. “Those guys need to be closely watched…” We played up that notion……Until the blowing desert sand thankfully silenced all the clocks.

Some of our crew not on watch got a chance to visit the ancient Roman city ruins of Petra out in the desert. Indiana Jones must have had the day off – he wasn’t there.

MIUW 103

Above: At yet another time and place…..This photo taken before the sky became black with the smoke from Saddam’s oil fires in Kuwait just north of here. “Like looking at the sun through a dark brown beer bottle”. Except we didn’t have any beer…..

MIUW 103 Saudi Arabia

“IF YOU WERE THERE, NO EXPLANATION IS NECESSARY.
IF YOU WEREN’T THERE, NO EXPLANATION IS POSSIBLE.”

Local transport

One of the locals. They were everywhere. Damn it was hot – and freezing cold at night. Especially as summer turned into winter.

Christmas while on-station in the Gulf

Above: A little touch of home – Christmas in the Gulf.

Fun Fact: Our forward-thinking Supply Officer somehow got the phone number for the front desk at one of Saddam’s upscale Baghdad hotels. He called them, requesting reservations for fancy rooms for 80 Navy reservists for New Years Eve. He was answered by unintelligible shouts and then a hangup. Go figure.

Speaking of tents, an interesting side note: The USS Wisconsin battleship was operating in the area. Sometimes they provided “Comms Guard” for us, relaying message traffic for us (speaking of radios…). When they went on the offensive in January 1991 we could FEEL their 16 inch main guns firing from over 150 miles away at times. The shock wave of sound would “thump” our tents when it went by. The tents would just pulsate. Once. You could just feel it more than hear it. We could feel the big guns going off – and then feel the projectile detonation about a minute later as it vaporized enemy positions in Kuwait. Very impressive. Too bad Saddam wasn’t under that instead of his conscripts. It took about 12 minutes for those sounds to reach us.

How to capture a T-72 Tank

How to lure a T-72 Tank into your trap. This Soviet-supplied main battle tank had a few Sears Craftsman metric wrenches inside laying around on the deck. Note the infra red spotlights for the night vision equipment. The laser rangefinder in the main gun sight had high quality magnesium fluoride anti-reflection coated optics and beam splitter prisms. But I digress – back to radios….

Captured BMP-2 Armored Command Vehicle

Above: A Soviet BMP-1 Armored Command Vehicle formerly belonging to Saddam, captured by the US Marine Corps 7th MEB (Marine Expeditionary Brigade)(we were not involved). Note those thick rear doors – they are also diesel fuel tanks in a BMP-1. I guess better to have that raging fire behind you! . Also note antenna mounts and radio gear inside on the left. A 73 mm gun is mounted in the small turret.

Many hundreds of these otherwise capable armored vehicles were completely shredded by Bradleys, Abrams, M-60’s, naval gunfire, A-10’s, TOW’s, Mavericks and Arty. So I’m told. Hell, I’m just a sailor…..

British Racal TRA-931 HF transceiver in captured BMP-1

Above is a British Racal TRA-931 HF radio inside the BMP-1 Armored Command Vehicle, port side. Saddam bought what he needed. Note the crude mount and antenna/ground wiring. Made from “household” THHN electrical wire. Betchya wanna know what freq it was tuned to!
Also, note the gun firing port for your AK-47, above and to the right of the radio. (The BMP-1 is fundamentally an armored personnel carrier.) See those arc-shaped black scratches under the port? They are from the magazine of an AK-47 machine gun firing from that port. This rig probably did not go down without a fight – but it was one of the lucky ones. Judging by the minimal magazine ‘scratches”, the fight was over quickly.

Captured Iraqi – Soviet R-123M VHF FM Tank Radio

Above: On the starboard side sat this Soviet R-123M VHF FM radio set. Functionally, it is roughly equivalent to the U.S. Korean War-vintage VRC-10 / RT-68 sets although it has wider frequency coverage (20 – 51.5 MC). Ever wonder why the AN/PRD-1 Radio Direction Finder system could receive FM at 20 MC? Here’s your answer. Painted in the characteristic silver hammertone of Soviet gear of that era. The R-123M tuning and frequency readout system is a close copy of a complex WWII German radio. Again, note the crude mount and wiring. No frills. This one was in good condition – it probably worked fine.

SCUD Missile High Explosive Warhead

This one didn’t. A Scud Dud. Very Close, but no Cigar….. Actually probably a stretched “Al Husayn” missile, a local Iraqi modification of a Soviet SCUD variant. It had more fuel and a lighter warhead (thus producing longer range needed for Iraq’s earlier attacks on Tehran in that conflict). Amazingly crudely fabricated parts inside. Pressure tank mounting flanges had bolt holes cut with a torch, not even a hand drill. A plywood bulkhead. Some of the internal wiring in this high explosive warhead was insulated and held together with painters masking tape. This one was probably fired from north of Basra in southern Iraq.

Just the double sonic booms of this supersonic missile falling towards the harbor at Al Jubail (Jubayl if you like) was quite loud. REALLY loud. Our watch standers saw it come in overhead “trailing purple sparks” as it re-entered the atmosphere at 0200 in the morning. The Coast Guard patrol boat crews of PSU-301 working with us also saw it fall; then went over to investigate the smoking hole in the water. MOPP 4 – hop into your chem-bio warfare suits and gas masks. Our thanks to Navy EODMU9 D33 who safed this sucker (under water), then retrieved, defuzed and disarmed it.. You know who you are. So do we. Thanks guys…..

Navy EOD also blew mines that had broken their moorings and floated south along the coast with the current. We had a trusty .50 Cal BMG at the ready if any mines (or anyone else) visited us more closely. A distinct threat where we were located – and we couldn’t exactly maneuver out of the way.

A Marine Corps officer also on-scene with us later quipped that if I had pulled out my .45 Automatic and returned fire BACK towards the Scud’s launch site we would have qualified for a Combat Action Ribbon! Ha! Most of the Navy ship crews in the Gulf received a CAR because their ship may have encountered a mine – like the Tripoli and Princeton actually did. How’s THIS SCUD for a close encounter! The grunts out in the desert really earned their CAR’s. As it was intended, as it should be.

Not much else to see here – back to work. Maffi Mooshkala – no problem.

MIUW 103 Crew

About a third of the crew was on watch when this photo was taken. Superb people. Several people joined us from our sister unit, MIUW 104, and our Salt Lake City det. to fill in a few vacant billets when we were mobilized. Thanks guys & gals!

Morse Code Class – Desert Storm

Above: Teaching a Morse Code class on-site in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm. After the shooting stopped and the ThreatCon had been reduced, we had some time for additional training. Here, conducting a class for several guys using an audio oscillator from our test equipment pool, a CW key and speaker to generate code. A couple of these guys went on to get their Ham radio licenses, utilizing this fundamental military skill.

During the combat operations, we had run some CW communications tests from our site back to Bahrain on assigned USN high frequency circuits in an effort to build as much communications redundancy as possible. Fortunately there were also Morse-qualified operators at the Bahrain site to enable this. It worked well.Yes Virginia, Morse Code was used During Operation Desert Storm.

Note the Colt .45 Automatic being carried by CWO4 “Bern”, extreme right foreground. Yes we had .45’s instead of the 9mm M-9 Baretta’s – and we were glad we had them. The US Marines we were working with often tried to trade their 9mm Baretta’s for our .45’s. No thanks….

Also, note two “short timers chains” made of soda can pop-tops hanging on the tent bulkhead behind us. Standard military fare but since this was an open-ended deployment, we ADDED a link to the chain for each day rather than removing one from an established-length chain. We were on line for 180 days straight, no days “off”.

Unlike the other units much further south of us which enjoyed commercial hotels, restaurant food and visits to the local souks for shopping, we had no “in town” liberty in Jubail; only a few of the crew got to have any liberty in Bahrain – usually associated with logistics runs down there. A few guys also got a couple of days on the cruise ship that was brought in as a controlled liberty site, also in Bahrain. Otherwise, we were on line, 18-20 hour work days, 24/7/180. HOOYAH!

When Saddam invaded Kuwait in August 1990, MIUW 103 was one of the very early units to land in Saudi Arabia under Operation Desert Shield. We were a high priority unit on the “TPFDL”, Time-Phased Force Deployment List. (We flew in on a C-5 transport in September with all our personnel and gear, arriving at a desert airfield at 0230. Put on your Kevlar, Move Out.)

Then, we were the northern-most U.S. Navy unit in proximity to Iraqi forces for several months thereafter. Those facts earned us an early ticket home after the shooting of Operation Desert Storm had stopped but before the sweeping up, paperwork and retrograde began.

Welcome Home MIUW 103

As always, the GREAT family members who carried the toughest load! Especially to Lorrie and MaryLou who coordinated all the family meetings, problem solving, communications and unit liaison with the families. Thank YOU! doesn’t even come remotely close enough. Thank YOU!

MIUW 103 Decommissioning Ceremony

Fast Forward 17 years – Navy News – January 19, 2008:
“At a Redesignation and Change of Command ceremony at NOSC Alameda, MIUW 103 was disestablished and then redesignated as Maritime Expeditionary Boat Detachment 113. During that ceremony, CDR Christopher Olaes USN, the last Commanding Officer of MIUW 103 passed the unit Ensign to the MIUW 103 Veterans Association. At this ceremony, the MIUW 103 Ensign, which had recently flown over the unit in the northern Arabian Gulf, was then Piped Over the Side for safe keeping”. – until the next time – HOOYAH!

MIUW 103 Ensign is piped over the side and retired

This occurred with the reorganization and stand-up of the new Naval Coastal Warfare Command, Navy Expeditionary Security Force and Navy Expeditionary Warfare Commands as those forces continue to evolve. What was old becomes new again. The Inshore Undersea Warfare units that were deployed in southeast Asia defending those ports had organic patrol boats as part of their operations. Here we go again. Maybe if we wait long enough and relearn some obvious history the Navy will bring back the Nasty PTF boats of the Green Water Navy again. But that’s another story.

Above: Our annual picnic and reunion was held at Coast Guard Island CA on 29 Sept 2012. We had about 40 alumni and family attend and a good time was had by all! Mike volunteered to procure, transport, prepare, cook and serve our “field rations” along with Pot Luck selections by all hands. Thanks Mike and to all others!

We were especially pleased that Glen (with cane) could make it all the way from Fresno with his son. Glen served aboard the USS Nevada as it shelled German positions in Normandy during the 1944 assault to liberate Europe and he served in MIUW 103 for many years later. Glen has also become the “duty” Stand Up Comedian for the unit! Wow! It was great to see everyone again and share in the stories and history of these fine people and units. See you again next year…More to follow.
——————————–
The Motley Crew: May 17, 2014. Some had to leave early, some had arrived late.

MIUW 103/104 Picnic 2014

Tony and Patrick

The 3 Amigo’s

——————————-

MIUW 103/104 Reunion Picnic 2016

Above: The MIUW Crew at our 2016 picnic and sea-story-fest. Once again, our many thanks to the Rec. Committee organizers who made it happen, all those who provided excellent chow and especially to Mike who once again provided the grillin’ fixins and then cooked it all for us. Meritorious Service!

We had the usual suspects and many other MIUW Vets who had missed earlier reunions – glad to see you guys and ladies!

However on a sad note, we acknowledge the recent passing of Glenn, our long time shipmate, friend, WWII veteran and stand-up comedian. Fair winds and following seas to you shipmate. Please keep us on your eternal radar scope. You will be missed!

BT
NNNN
———————————————————————-(Photos, except Ft Point: Author)

This post is ongoing – stop by again for updates!

51 Comments

Ray Hoyt

Tim:
Nicely done… a great representation of accomplishments. Too bad, no photos of the beach at Camp Pendleton afire, set by you know who!!

TJ,
As always, great job. Don’t know where we would be today without the great shipmates of MIUW 1920/103 and the history of our great accomplishments. Thanks for putting it all into perspective. Folks don’t understand what we did and the fact that we really loved it. Need a few more photo ops.
Thanks,
Dorsey

Great stuff–thanks! I thought fer sure you wudda told the (coulda been tragic) hilarious story of our time at the gun range for fam fire upon arrival in theater. All personnel were instructed to place their weapons on single shot, with positive confirmation required by each participant. Well, the guy to my immediate left, a cook who was in my department, mistook “full auto” for single shot. When “commence firing” was ordered, a shower of hot shells flew over my head and down my back. I stopped firing, put my weapon down, and said, “what the HECK?” or words to that effect…I look to my left, and my cook was now 10 yards behind us all, hopping up and down from the recoil as he kept his finger on the trigger. We all hit the deck and yelled, “CEASE FIRE!” but he only stopped when he ran out of ammo. I kept him on KP duty and instructed him not to touch a weapon as long as he was in the unit. Close call, indeed.

It happened just like I described it, 100% sure. Things become much clearer the longer you have to think about them. Oh, and Capt Brant has it written in his log book, so I must be right…

Today’s sailors, Marines, airmen, and dog face, er, soldiers deploy into harms way repeatedly. I am proud of our service, but thankful for theirs. They have FaceTime, Skype, GoogleVoice, and e-mail–no more waiting three weeks for a copy of the SF Chronicle to arrive to find out who won the Big Game, or to see a picture of the family. We all have our duty to do when our name is called, we do it to the best of our ability, and hope that we don’t embarrass ourselves by the time it’s over. My hat’s off to the young guys for the way they have conducted themselves in GWII, but I’m glad we went when we did.

Thanks for a great day! When I took my turn to speak, I was careful to allow my shipmates plenty of time (I should’ve known better!) to share their stories, and neglected to convey what membership in MIUW1920 has meant to me over the years. The opportunity to work with such a fine body of men (& women!) has been a stability point in my life. When I reported aboard, I was in the middle of a college career and a crumbling marriage. MIUW saw me through both of those experiences, providing a point of “normalcy” (if you can believe that!) in a life that was uncertain in a lot of other aspects.

Thanks to all of my MIUW shipmates for providing a point in my life where competence and professionalism, as well as a damn good time, can be counted on!

Thanks Ray – Yes, there is some unique Chemistry going on in this crew! If the Navy ever knew; truly a Secret Weapon…..
As someone else at the picnic observed, it’s great to reconnect with people you really liked and really respected. Amen!

Thanks to all of you on the set up crew who made this event possible. Tim and Mike for a no relief watch in the galley. Sea stories/stroll down memory lane; had I thought we would get into those… (I could’ve slid into some of the time slot left open by the absence of Ray Martinez). Next time.
Herb

Was in MIUW 103 for a few years before high year tenure caught up with me and I retired. I retired with MIUW 103 in 2002. That photo of the change of command were MIUW 103 was changed to Maritime Expeditionary Boat Detachment 113: That bell and stand I made and gave to the unit because we were out in the field and Chief Anderson retired and we used a jack stand as the bell. I could not see that happen again so I made the bell and gave it to the unit. Glad it still being used. I was in SBU IX – would be great to be in the new unit with boats again/ They do it after I leave the unit – nothing like being on a patrol boat.

Hi Boats – Thanks for checking in! Yep, your Bell and Stand are still on active duty – but I liked the idea of using a jack stand for a bell during a “field retirement” ceremony! Improvise, Adapt, Overcome – in the finest MIUW tradition…..

Surfing the web and came across this site. Wow, what a trip down memory lane. I’m old school and probably not remembered by many. I was part of MIUW 103 from 86 – 89, known then as RM2 Warren. Those days are remembered fondly and I often think of those I served with. Good times had by all!

Hi Sparks! You can tell I should have been an RM (well, I am a former CT) – hope you had some fun with it!
“Old School”? Old School means REAL !
If you are in the area in Sept we will have another unit reunion picnic so stay tuned. the Usual Suspects show up.
Thanks for stopping by the website and Thank You for your service!
Tim

Thank you Tim,
Of all the MIUWU I knew and worked with over the years I was pretty sure that 103 and its antecedent along with 104 would provide the most detailed site of their times. I enjoyed serving with both units.

Hi Curtis –
As you know, these units have done some interesting, necessary things over the years. We had some really superb people doing the work and I just happened to be around with a camera – it’s their story. The photo’s resurfaced so I thought I’d put some of them up with some sea stories for old times’ sake.
Thanks for stopping by!
Tim

Hi Patrick !
For your service during Operations Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield, you were awarded the following medals and ribbons:
Southwest Asia Service Medal with 2 bronze star attachments (one for each Campaign, Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Awarded by the Government of Kuwait)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Awarded by the Government of Saudi Arabia – they are different medals)
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Ribbon)
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon

Your DD-214 “should” show these awards but it is likely it does not show some, maybe any of them. That’s because the form was signed on or about the date you were demobilized and some or all of these awards were approved AFTER that date. (the wheels turn slowly) They should be in your Service Record, Page 13. If you need to, contact the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis and send then an “SF-180” form requesting a copy of your awards. Look here for details: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/
Our records are in a box in that vast warehouse, right next to the “Holy Grail” that Indiana Jones found !!!

Since the MIUW units were decommissioned and then re-designated as part of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, there is no “official” US Navy website for MIUW 103 or the other MIUWU’s. My webpage here is just a very un-official “cruise book” for our shipmates, veterans, families and friends….
You did a great job over there shipmate – Saddam lost, a lot of innocent people were spared. We are proud of you!
Tim

I was one of the guys up topside standing roving patrol during mid-watch when the SCUD missile nearly hit our unit, that sight will stay in my mind for as long as I live. The vision of that incoming missile that appeared to be zeroed in on us only to miss our position by a few hundred yards as it whizzed overhead by what appeared to be a couple of hundred feet was a lot to take in.

Right after the explosion, I remember passing the word to all those down below to go to MOPP level 4. I made a very personal decision at that moment not to don my gas mask so that I could ensure everyone in their tents could hear my voice while I was passing those instructions along to them. I remember the smell of the missile of what I thought was VX gas at the time, I thought that I was a goner.

That explosion took me off my feet as I had never heard such a loud explosion in my lifetime. I gave MIUW 103 everything that I had to give on that fateful night and I will never forget it.

Hello to all, it has been some time since I muttered the words MIUW 103. A unit I proudly served with for approximately 6+ years. I have many, many photos of our tour in 1990-1991 I would love to share with. I will check back periodically.
Seeing this site brought back found, funny and loving memories.

Thanks to all.

Tim Wilson AKA “Boats”.
The only one to receive a ticket for passing a full bus of MP’s in Saudi. Little did they I know I was a civilian Cop

It’s so good to hear from you!! If my memory serves me correct, you were/are a police officer in Richmond or Vallejo, right?

I have a ton of photos from our GW deployment as well. Some of them with you doing your famous Tim Wilson WAVE. You brought so many of us much needed laughs with your great spirit of comedy and humor when we all needed it the most.

John, yes your right, it was Vallejo. I took a leave of absence from then and now work for the fed’s.
Is there a web site other than here set up for photos? Has there been any or any in the future reunions?
I left the Navy in 1992 and lateralled over to the Air Force. I went into EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal).
Retired in 2008 after 23 yrs. 10 months.
I just returned from my USS New Jersey BB-62 25 yr. reunion in Philadelphia.
Hope to hear (okay read) from all MIUWins.
Take care.
Tim W.

Hi Tim – You’ve been busy! BZ!
I don’t know of an MIUW 103 website beyond this simple Blog…I don’t do any of the “social media” stuff so maybe there is something there that I wouldn’t be aware of. We have been having periodic reunion picnics at Coast Guard Island (Alameda); last one was Sept 2012. Nothing immediately in the works for this Sept so the next one will likely be in Sept 2014.
Anyway, MIUWtants are welcome to stop by here!
Tim

I served as an EMFN with the USNR-TAR component of MIUWU103 from the summer of ’88 until the fall of ’89 when I received a fleet appointment to the Naval Academy Preparatory School. While assigned, I made it to BRIM FROST in Alaska and a joint operation with MIUWU-208 (Miami) to Fort Story, VA. I missed BRIGHT STAR in Jordan due to my orders for Newport, RI.

EN1(SW) Craig Kemp was my LPO; I remember SK2 John Mantey, EM2 Garcia, RM1 Tony Milligan, and STG2 Matt Kelly on the active duty side. CDR Griffin was the CO and LCDR Carter was the XO; we were still wearing Seabee Greens then and working in the compound outside of Building 2 at Treasure Island.

I graduated from NAPS in 1990 and USNA in 1994, serving as a Captain in the Marine Corps until I resigned my commission. I believe MIUWU-103 was knee deep in DESERT STORM when I was in Plebe Summer, wishing I could be back in the fleet instead of sweating my rear off in Annapolis.

I remember a lot of names and faces that are probably long gone by now . I have an 8-year old son who wears my old OD green field jacket with the IUW shark patch on it.

If anyone is ever in Philadelphia, please drop me a line and I’ll try to repay the hospitality I was shown by a great group of west coast Sailors!

Good lookin’ website. Very informative, really nice to learn a little bit about what happened to MIUWS ops since the Vietnam days — you fellows have been busy, eh? On the other hand, reading between the lines, there’s a general flavor that you’re pretty much the same kind of misfits that populated the early teams. Well done. Anyhow, just saying, it’s a nice website.

Hi Deckape! Welcome aboard…. Thanks for visiting the website! You guys established the fundamental operating scenarios in a tough environment, we just continued with the missions in lots of other places. It continues….
Well, you nailed it. Someone once observed that “The people who join MIUW don’t join it because MIUW’s are different. They join because THEY are”.. Proud to be a MIUWtant LOL

Thanks for your service shipmate – you done good
Very respectfully, Tim

Many fond memories of the Unit 103 on Treasure Island. Was transferred in 90 to Philadelphia Unit 203 and Lewes, DE 204. Have many pictures of Brimfrost. Just a note, My husband SKC Tony Tremarco who was the active duty support at the Rescen passed away May 24, 2007. I retired in 2007 as an SKCS. Miss all my friends. The one and only unit that your shipmates were your family.

Hi Pat – Thanks for checking in – and very sorry to hear about your husband.
I had not returned to 103 until after the Brimfrost exercise – but heard all the stories. Good training…
Yep – 103 was very much a “family” – if you are in town in May, stop by for the picnic!
Take care, Tim

MIUWU-104 San Jose, CA August 1992 to August 1994. Pascagoula,Mississippi, Treasure Island, Alameda Island, Sacramento River, Mare Island, and San Diego Field Exercises.
Lots of long hours, late Friday and Sunday nights and hard work are what I remember about my two years at the best place I ever served. Great people volunteered to be part of the MIUW.
I remember the day that the day the Commanding Officer’s wife, Mrs Carter and kids brought cherry cheesecake cupcakes to the active duty staff at the San Jose Reserve Center.
Little things like that are the memories I enjoy most.

Hi John – Thanks for checking in – and for being a “MIUWtant” HaHa. Yep, great people doing important work. And having some fun along the way as well….
Hope you can make it to the picnic on 16May if you are in the area – it would be nice to meet you and I know that Brant and other 104 Vets will be there too..

I was the HM2 (assigned to Inshore Undersea Warfare Group 1 – San Diego) who was sent to augment MIUW 103 because of a Corpsmen shortage in Oct. 1989. The discussion about the Air Force C-141 stopping at Rhein-Main in Frankfurt was somewhat my fault. One of the crew members on-board developed kidney stones and wouldn’t have been able to tolerate the rest of the ride to our destination. It was while waiting in the Emergency Dept. at Rhein-Main that I first heard of the Loma Prieta earthquake on CNN.
I am not in any of the posted photos ’cause I kind of avoid cameras. But I do have some great pictures, particularly of Petra. I also seem to remember the bus ride from hell and Mr. Goede. And The Latrine…
MIUWs 204, 206, 210 and 211 were also included in my career.
Thanks for the reminder to others that Coast Watchers survived long after WWII.

Hi Evana! Glad you checked in – how are you? Been a LONG time ago, time flies…
Well we have been having these little reunions pretty much every year since forever so check into my website for information on the planning for the future ones. We have a mailing/EMail list for the unit but it is tough to keep it updated so this is a good way to find stuff out.

Great site, Tim, and congrats for rounding up and keeping the herd together. My last gig with IUWG-1 was Command Master Chief under CAPT (Commodore) Curtis McKee in SDiego. Then came my 5th recall to active duty as Pacific Fleet Subject Matter Expert in Counter-Terrorism. Offered to extend my active duty and USNR service for 2 years beyond the mandatory age of 60, I opted to hang up my fatigues. The Navy hired me back for a civilian instructor tour at FTC, SDiego, from ’85 to ’88, when I up and resigned. Spent the next ten years as volunteer rifle coach for NROTC and NJROTC. Retired, sort of, to Lake Havasu City with M5, My Marvelous Magical Mysterious Marlene to continue our world-wide adventures. Will be docent one last time next month at Portland’s Fleet Week about the former USS PT658. Full circle from the PT103 in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea 1943 to 1945. http://www.pt103.com/PT_Boat_Veteran_Stories.html

I was assigned to MIUW11 in 1973 to 75 at Coronado. Our primary duty was to train reserves and we did that well. I searched for the website on a whim and am pleased to see that the unit survived in some way.

Hi Bruce – Yes, MIUW 11 was still active into the early 1980’s but may have been renumbered at some point. In those days IUW Group 1 was active duty, it transitioned to all Reservists in the late 70’s if I recall. The individual units were eventually Commissioned with a reserve crew and about 6 active duty members as well. That’s how we mobilized…Lots of changes!
Thanks for checking in…Tim

I was the Active Duty Liaison attached to MIUW 1920 on Treasure Island 1982-1984. My office was in Hangar 2. Loved taking the communications van everywhere! I also remember hitching rides on the Coast Guard Cutters to drop Sona-Buoys outside the Golden Gate Bridge.
I remember being told that shortly before I joined the team in 82 that 1920 had made National news by [- redacted -].

Loved the old Quonset hut… I used to hang out in there quite a bit. Plus I got to wear “Greens” when I was with y’all!

Hi Bill – Yes, those were good times with a good crew and interesting mission. The hanger and Quonset hut are still there although now commercial properties, sad… That story you related is true (national NAVY news) – but still not for publication – Sorry – I had to delete that part…!
Take care shipmate! Tim